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NBA players’ union contemplates lost season

Ben Smith

November 15 2011, 12:04am, The Times

LeBron James could spend more time in England watching Liverpool if the NBA season is cancelledRay Stubblebine/Reuters

The new NBA season could be over before it starts. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) said last night that negotiations between players and the league had “completely broken down”, casting doubt over the 2011-12 season.

The scheduled start has already been delayed by five weeks because of the dispute, which centres on a new collective bargaining agreement, with the players holding out for 52.5 per cent of their teams’ basketball-related income, and the league offering between 49 and 51 per cent by way of compromise.

The NBPA says it now plans to dissolve the players’ union and pursue antitrust lawsuits against the league over the 137-day lockout.

“We have negotiated in good faith for over two years,” Billy Hunter, the NBPA executive director, said.…